Rudbeckia plant named ‘RUDHT53’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Rudbeckia  plant named ‘RUDHT53’, characterized by its compact, broadly upright and mounded plant habit; freely branching growth habit; freely flowering habit; small single-type inflorescences with yellow orange-colored ray florets positioned above the foliar plane on strong peduncles; and good garden and container performance.

Botanical designation: Rudbeckia hirta.

Cultivar denomination: ‘RUDHT53’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofRudbeckia plant, botanically known as Rudbeckia hirta, commonly referredto as Black-eyed Susan, and hereinafter referred to by the name‘RUDHT53’.

The new Rudbeckia plant is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in Zuidwolde, The Netherlands. The objectiveof the breeding program is to create new compact Rudbeckia plants withnumerous attractive inflorescences.

The new Rudbeckia plant originated from a cross-pollination made by theInventor in Zuidwolde, The Netherlands in July, 2015 of two unnamedproprietary seedling selections of Rudbeckia hirta, not patented. Thenew Rudbeckia plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as asingle flowering plant from within the progeny of the statedcross-pollination in a controlled environment in Zuidwolde, TheNetherlands in July, 2016.

Asexual reproduction of the new Rudbeckia by in vitro meristem culturein a controlled greenhouse environment in Zuidwolde, The Netherlandssince March, 2017 has shown that the unique features of this newRudbeckia are stable and reproduced true to type in successivegenerations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Rudbeckia have not been observed under all possiblecombinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. Thephenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditionssuch as temperature and light intensity, without, however, any variancein genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘RUDHT53’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘RUDHT53’ as a new and distinct Rudbeckia plant:

-   -   1. Compact, broadly upright and mounded plant habit.    -   2. Freely branching growth habit.    -   3. Freely flowering habit.    -   4. Small single-type inflorescences with yellow orange-colored        ray florets positioned above the foliar plane on strong        peduncles.    -   5. Good garden and container performance.

Plants of the new Rudbeckia differ from plants of the parent selectionsin the following characteristics in plant habit as plants of the newRudbeckia are more compact and uniform than plants of the parentselections.

Plants of the new Rudbeckia can be compared to Rudbeckia hirta XEchinacea purpurea ‘ET-RDB 02’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 25,243.Plants of the new Rudbeckia differ primarily from plants of ‘ET-RDB 02’in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Rudbeckia are more compact than plants of        ‘ET-RDB 02’.    -   2. Plants of the new Rudbeckia are more freely flowering than        plants of ‘ET-RDB 02’.    -   3. Plants of the new Rudbeckia have smaller inflorescences than        plants of ‘ET-RDB 02’.    -   4. Plants of the new Rudbeckia and ‘ET-RDB 02’ differ in ray        floret color as plants of ‘ET-RDB 02’ have yellow, orange and        reddish-colored ray florets.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of thenew Rudbeckia showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible toobtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographsmay differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailedbotanical description which accurately describe the colors of the newRudbeckia.

The photograph on the first sheet comprises a side perspective view of atypical flowering plant of ‘RUDHT53’ grown in a container.

The photograph at the top of the second sheet is a close-up view of atypical flowering plant of ‘RUDHT53’.

The photograph at the bottom of the second sheet is a close-up view oftypical leaves of ‘RUDHT53’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurementsand values describe plants grown in 19-cm containers during the latesummer and early autumn in an outdoor nursery in Zuidwolde, TheNetherlands and under cultural conditions typical of commercialRudbeckia production. During the production of the plants, daytemperatures ranged from 18° C. to 30° C. and night temperatures rangedfrom 6° C. to 18° C. Plants were 18 weeks old when the photographs weretaken and 17 weeks old when the detailed description was taken. In thefollowing description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart, 2015 Edition, except where generalterms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Rudbeckia hirta ‘RUDHT53’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Unnamed proprietary seedling            selection of Rudbeckia hirta, not patented.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Unnamed proprietary seedling            selection of Rudbeckia hirta, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By in vitro meristem culture.        -   Time to initiate roots.—About ten days at soil temperatures            about 15° C. and ambient temperatures about 20° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plants.—About 30 to 35 days            at soil temperatures about 15° C. and ambient temperatures            about 20° C.        -   Root description.—Medium in thickness; fleshy; typically            white in color, actual color of the roots is dependent on            substrate composition, water quality, fertilizers, substrate            temperature and physiological age of roots.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; medium density.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Herbaceous perennial; compact,            broadly upright and mounded plant habit; strong and freely            branching growth habit with about six primary lateral            branches each with about five secondary lateral branches;            dense and bushy appearance; moderately vigorous growth            habit; medium growth rate.        -   Plant height.—About 27.7 cm.        -   Plant width.—About 28.3 cm.        -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 11.9 cm. Diameter: About            3.5 mm. Internode length: About 2.3 cm. Angle: Primary            lateral branches are upright to about 35° from vertical and            secondary lateral branches are about 25° from primary            lateral branches axis. Strength: Moderately strong. Texture            and luster: Moderately to densely pubescent; moderately            glossy. Lenticels: None observed on plants of the new            Rudbeckia. Color: Developing branches, close to 144A;            developed branches, close to 144A to 144B with axillary            stripes, close to 143A, and at the nodes, close to 144A to            144B.-   Leaf description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate, simple; sessile.        -   Length.—About 8.2 cm.        -   Width.—About 3.1 cm.        -   Shape.—Elliptic to obovate.        -   Apex.—Obtuse.        -   Base.—Truncate to cuneate.        -   Margin.—Coarsely and shallowly serrate.        -   Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces.—Pubescent,            rough; matte.        -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.        -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 137C.            Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to between 137D and            146B. Fully expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to 137B;            venation, close to 145C. Fully expanded leaves, lower            surface: Close to 137D; venation, close to 137C.-   Inflorescence description:    -   -   Type and arrangement.—Single-type inflorescence form with            obovate-shaped ray florets and tubular disc florets;            inflorescences borne on terminal and axillary peduncles            above and beyond the foliar plane on strong peduncles; ray            and disc florets arranged acropetally on a capitulum.        -   Fragrance.—None detected.        -   Flowering season.—Plants begin flowering about 100 days            after planting; long flowering period, plants flower            continuously during the late summer to late autumn in The            Netherlands.        -   Inflorescence longevity.—Good postproduction longevity with            inflorescences lasting about two to five weeks on the plant;            inflorescences not persistent.        -   Quantity of inflorescences.—Freely flowering habit,            typically about 30 developing and fully developed            inflorescences at one time.        -   Inflorescence buds.—Height: About 1.8 cm. Diameter: About            2.1 cm. Shape: Broadly ovate. Texture and luster: Densely            pubescent; matte. Color: Close to 151D.        -   Inflorescences.—Diameter: About 7.5 cm. Depth (height):            About 3.3 cm. Diameter of disc: About 1.9 cm. Receptacle            height: About 9 mm. Receptacle diameter: About 8 mm.            Receptacle shape: Ovate. Receptacle color: Close to 157A.        -   Ray florets.—Quantity and arrangement: About twelve per            inflorescence arranged in a single whorl. Length: About            3.9 cm. Width: About 1.8 cm. Shape: Obovate. Apex: Obtuse to            bluntly acute. Base: Cuneate. Margin: Entire. Aspect: When            developing, upright and when fully opened, outwardly.            Texture and luster, upper surface: Smooth, glabrous;            velvety; matte. Texture and luster, lower surface: Densely            pubescent; slightly velvety; matte. Color: When opening,            upper surface: Close to between 17A and 23A; fading toward            the apex, close to 17B. When opening, lower surface: Close            to 14A. Fully opened, upper surface: Close to between 17A            and 23A; fading towards the apex, close to 17B. Fully            opened, lower surface: Close to 17B to 17C.        -   Disc florets.—Quantity and arrangement: About 700 per            inflorescence arranged in a spiral of about 15 whorls.            Length: About 7 mm. Width: About 3.5 mm. Shape: Lower 90%            fused and tubular, elongated. Apex: Acute. Aspect: Upright.            Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; glossy. Color: When            opening, inner and outer surfaces: Close to between 200A and            203A; towards the base, close to 155A. Fully opened, inner            surface: Close to 200D; mid-section, close to 147D; towards            the base, close to 155A. Fully opened, outer surface: Close            to between 200A and 203A; towards the base, close to 155A.        -   Phyllaries.—Quantity and arrangement: About twelve per            inflorescence arranged in a single whorl. Length: About            2 cm. Width: About 6 mm. Shape: Narrowly obovate. Apex:            Obtuse. Base: Broadly cuneate. Margin: Entire. Texture and            luster, upper and lower surfaces: Densely pubescent; matte.            Color, upper surface: Close to 137B. Color, lower surface:            Close to 137D.        -   Peduncles.—Length: About 5.7 cm. Diameter: About 3.5 mm.            Strength: Strong. Aspect: Mostly upright. Texture and            luster: Densely pubescent; moderately glossy. Color: Close            to 144B with axillary stripes, close to 143A.        -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium (present only on disc            florets): Quantity per disc floret: About five. Filament            length: About 3 mm. Filament color: Close to 155A. Anther            shape: Narrowly oblong. Anther length: About 2 mm. Anther            width: About 0.5 mm. Anther color: Close to 200A. Pollen            amount: Scarce. Pollen color: Close to 14A. Gynoecium            (present only on disc florets): Pistil length: About 6 mm.            Style length: About 4.5 mm. Style color: Close to 155A.            Stigma diameter: About 3.5 mm. Stigma shape: Cleft,            decurrent. Stigma color: Close to between 200A and 202A.            Ovary color: Close to 155A.        -   Seeds and fruits.—Seed and fruit production has not been            observed on plants of the new Rudbeckia to date.-   Disease & pest resistance: Plants of the new Rudbeckia have not been    observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Rudbeckia    plants.-   Garden performance: Plants of the new Rudbeckia have been observed    to have good garden performance and to tolerate wind, rain, high    temperatures about 35° C. and to be suitable for USDA Hardiness    Zones 5 to 10.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Rudbeckia plant named ‘RUDHT53’ asillustrated and described.